Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Hiya peeps! Here's a holiday-themed story I wrote some time back that stars some of your favorite characters from the Tallenmere Series. Enjoy, and I wish you ALL a Merry Christmas!

****

A Ranger’s Holiday

Razor
glided over naked trees in the dormant winter chill of the Wildewoode Forest. His
half-elf master Galadin Trudeaux waited below, shrouded to near-invisibility
under his concealment spell. The hunting hawk made his silent dive on an
unsuspecting rabbit. Talons and beak ensured a quick, efficient death. The
little thing didn’t even have a chance to squeal.

“Nice
one, old boy.” Galadin dropped concealment and hurried to the carcass before
Razor tore into it too much.

Bending
down with his hunting knife, he cut off a nice morsel of warm meat. Razor,
eyeing his prize, climbed onto his master’s sturdy leather arm wrap. Galadin
stood with the catch in one hand and offered the meat with the other. The hawk
wasted no time gobbling it down.

He
weaved his way down the narrow footpath toward the main forest road. Rounding a
bend that cut along an eroded hillside, he dodged to avoid a jagged rock that
jutted into his blind spot. But, his foot hit a patch of mud, and down he went
like a felled tree. Razor, needing neither leash nor hood, hopped away
gracefully to a nearby bush. His master, on the other hand, took a full mud
bath in a much-deeper-than-it-looked hole.

Rising
from the muck like some earthen monster, Galadin sat up and swiped mud from his
one good eye. He did a quick inspection of himself. Brown, gooey globs dripped
from both arms and ran beneath his shirt.

He
shook his head and grimaced. “Cali’s going to kill me.”

****

Hands
sticky with dough and coated with flour, Caliphany slid the loaf pan in the
oven. “Oh, I forgot to preheat. Better fix that.” She opened the fire box and
searched the kitchen for the striker. “Where is that thing?”

Sighing
in frustration, she held her hand a few inches from the wood. Her palm tingled,
burning with familiar pinpricks as a compact puff of blue fire shot into the
tinder, setting it ablaze. Being a ranger and
fire mage had its advantages.

“There,”
she said with a self-satisfied grin. “My first loaf of bread.”

Mollie
skipped through the front door, leaving it open to the chilly wind. “Mama, why
are you cooking?”

Caliphany,
fearing for her bread’s life, ran for the door and let out a squeal. A chicken
flapped in her daughter’s arms. Feathers floated onto her unruly curls, through
the air, and all over the floor.

Snatching
the bird, who clucked indignantly, Caliphany tossed it out onto the porch.

Door secured once
more against the elements, she turned to her daughter. “Mollie, where is your
father? I thought he’d be back by now.”

Caliphany smiled.
“I know, my darling, but I’ve cleaned the cottage from top to bottom. Our
guests will arrive soon. I want our Year’s End dinner to be perfect.”

“But, Mama, you never cook.”

“Well, today, I
am. Now, clean up and put on your new dress.”

“All right, Mama.”
Mollie dragged her feet and hung her head all the way to her room.

Caliphany found
the broom and swept up brown feathers until the floor was spotless.

She glanced at the
clock. “Where is Galadin?”

He was supposed to
be here helping watch Mollie. Her mother, Ellawen, had offered to come early
and babysit, but Caliphany wanted to handle the holiday on her own this year.
Not once had she celebrated away from the Aranea manor or the palace in
Leogard, where servants prepared everything. Since becoming a wife and mother
with her own household, Caliphany had tried hard to master domestic life. Most
high elves couldn’t understand why one of their kind, especially the king’s
niece, wanted to get her hands dirty. Even her mother remained skeptical.

She put away the
broom and checked on the bread. Besides being a little lopsided, it was rising
nicely. Outside the kitchen window, smoke plumed from the smokehouse, where
Galadin had venison curing for their feast. He’d already prepared a nice
selection of side dishes. Why he needed rabbits, too, she had no idea, but if
this bread came out a success, she could brag about contributing something to
dinner, too.

Mollie’s voice
rang out from the pantry. “Uh-oh.”

Never certain what
her precocious daughter might be into next, Caliphany’s muscles tensed as she
rushed to the scene. Mollie, with a few rogue feathers still stuck in her hair,
now had a thick coating of honey gluing them down. The honey jar wobbled on its
side, and a viscous stream meandered onto Mollie’s new red satin dress with the
fur-lined collar.

Caliphany clapped
a hand to her forehead. “Mollie…why?”

“I was trying to
reach the honey for your bread, Mama. I was trying to help.”

“I didn’t ask you
to help! Today is supposed to be perfect, and now look!”

Under the sticky
mask of honey, Mollie’s bottom lip trembled.

Caliphany righted
the jar and took one of her daughter’s messy hands. “I know you were trying to
help, sweetheart. Let’s get you a quick bath.”

****

Galadin released
Razor into his warm hutch and covered it to keep out drafts. He opened the
door, expecting to be greeted by his wife and daughter, but all he got was a
face full of smoke.

“Cali! Mollie!” He
ran through the black cloud into the kitchen. Ducking beneath the smoke layer,
he honed in on its source—the oven. He grabbed a mitt, opened the door, and
coughed as a thicker cloud of smoke billowed out.

Cali, with a
towel-wrapped Mollie in her arms, ran from the bedroom. “Oh no!”

Galadin took the
pan from the oven, opened the kitchen window, and dumped the charred remains
outside. He sped through the cottage, opening every window to let the smoke escape. He’d

just finished when he
heard a sob. Behind him, Cali sat at the dining table, head in both hands, and
wept bitterly.

He knelt at her
side. “Cali, don’t cry. It’s fine. But, what happened?”

“I made bread.”

“Oh.”

“Then Mollie
brought her chicken in the house, and then she spilled honey all over herself.
I had to give her a bath and forgot the br-e-a-a-a-d.” She melted into more
tears, while Galadin rubbed her back and looked at Mollie. The little girl
shrugged and retreated to her room.

“Cali, it’ll be
all right. We can make more bread.”

She raised her
head and started to say something, then grimaced. “Why are you all…?” The
sobbing resumed with a vengeance.

There was nothing
he wanted more than to give Cali and Mollie a wonderful Year’s End. After their
long separation and dangerous work as scouts, they deserved some peace and
quiet. He knew how much this holiday meant to Cali and loved her more than ever
for wanting to make it special.

Cali gave him a
half-hearted smile when he kissed her cheek.

Bang,
bang, bang!

They both gasped,
“They’re here!”

Galadin hurried to
the door and opened it to find a stack of colorful boxes.

“A little help, please!” his mother-in-law,
Ellawen, called out from behind them.

Shyler, Galadin’s former first mate, now
blind, stood beside her. “I told ya I could get those, me lady. Or you could
have let the driver do it instead of sending ‘im off so soon.”

Caliphany glanced from
her ex-husband to her current one and rolled her eyes.

Serenya tiptoed to
give Cali a one-armed hug. “The venison smells wonderful. Thanks for inviting
us. Would you like to hold Fallon?”

“I would,” Cali
said. She took the chubby baby, who immediately fisted her pearls and drooled
on them. “My, how they’ve grown! I’m so sorry everything’s…” She gave Galadin a
pointed look. “…a mess. Nothing turned out quite right, I’m afraid.”

Serenya pulled out
a doll from her shoulder bag and presented it to Mollie. The toddler threw her
arms around Serenya’s neck. “Thank you, Renny! I love it!”

“I made it
especially for you, sweetheart.” Serenya sat cross-legged on the floor, Mollie settled
on her lap. “On the contrary, Cali, I’d say today is just perfect. We’re all
together, everyone’s healthy and happy. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

They feasted until
their bellies begged for mercy. Galadin refused their offers of help while he
cleaned up and enjoyed the happy chatter of a full cottage. Theirs was an
unconventional family, but it worked, nonetheless. The horrors they’d shared
seemed like nothing more than a bad dream tonight. Jayden played the violin
while Serenya sang. Shyler regaled everyone with tales from their sailing days.
Caliphany and Ellawen sat on a quilt and played with the twins. Mollie danced
and giggled until she wore herself out, soon falling sound asleep on Jayden’s
shoulder.

He whispered to
Cali, “Mind if I tuck her in?”

Cali smiled.
“Sure, go ahead.”

All their guests
bedded down in the den in sleeping bags and on the sofa, even though Cali offered
their bedrooms. Galadin peeked in on sound-asleep Mollie and kissed her cheek.
He’d almost forgotten about his much-needed bath, so he eased into his bedroom
and closed the door quietly, thinking Cali might be asleep already.

Instead, she stood
there wearing nothing but a towel. “Ready for your bath, Captain?”

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Yes, peeps, I've got yet another release coming up on December 21. This time with author MJ Post. It's a contemporary romance novella called Chances Are. Here's what it's about:

Natalie and JD West had it all—a nice house, steady jobs, and a baby on the way.

Until the unthinkable happened.

On the brink of divorce, Natalie soothes her grief by playing matchmaker for her best friend. JD, a high school principal, focuses on helping a troubled student. With their separate missions, a seductive secretary, and a deadly situation brewing, chances are they’ll never make it. Will love be enough to pull them through?

And of course, we have a party planned over on Facebook, so you won't need a cute cocktail dress or a gift for this December party :)

Monday, December 1, 2014

Here's another good excuse to wile away those long winter days with a good book! I'm happy to host this stop in the blog tour for some amazing authors from Satin Romance, many of whose work I already admire and a few who I am excited to get to know. This collection is made up of short, but sweet romantic tales sure to warm you from the inside out. Here's a little rundown of what you'll find within its pages:

Frozen: A Winter Romance Anthology

The Ice Hotel Wedding Test by Charmaine Pauls
Jess and Derrick have been together for twelve years. When Jess finally gives
Derrick an ultimatum, tie the knot or set her free, he proposes a bizarre test
to decide their destiny.

Love Thaws a Frozen Heart by Valerie J. Clarizio
Casey is hell bent on getting Noah to sign divorce papers. Hiding out at his
camp, Noah is hell bent on not signing. Procuring a snowmobile, Casey sets out
in a blinding snowstorm to find him. After crashing, she is near death when
Noah finds her. Will a few cabin-bound days cause either of them to change
their mind?

Lord of Ice by April Marcom
Jack Frost gave his heart to Lilly the day she was born, making her the perfect
leverage for a fire spirit whose heart is set on becoming Lord of Ice.

Frozen Moments by Nancy Pennick ('A Waiting For Dusk' story)
Drew keeps proposing. Kate keeps saying no. It’s their little game. Can the
holiday season change that? Kate has lost her best friend, and Drew does his
best to cheer her up in this delightful story of love and memories.

Frozen In Time by Christina Kirby
Lizbeth travels the world as a freelance photographer and answers to no one.
After her last relationship, that’s exactly how she wants her life to be, easy
and all her own. Jonas is staying at his family’s cabin while he deals with the
loss of a fellow fallen solider. He wants nothing more than to be left alone
and to avoid Christmas. Neither plan on spending Christmas with a stranger or
finding the person who’s exactly what each other needs.

Frozen With Possibilities by Rhonda Brutt
A resort on the shores of Lake Superior in the middle of December was not
exactly what Tiffany had in mind for a mid-winter vacation. But when she agreed
to accompany her progressive grandmother on this frozen trip, she discovered
that life is filled with possibilities, if you only go after them.

Frozen Heart Thawing by Nicole Angeleen
In the depths of winter, Thomas Everett grudgingly meets his betrothed, Nila
Sarvani, the daughter of a powerful sheikh. The passion they share takes them
both by surprise, but the ruthlessness of American business threatens to tear
them apart. Nila must decide if her dreams can be realized if she allows
herself to fall in love.

Frozen Dreams by Elena Kane
In a world surrounded by snow and magic, Cara finds herself grossly out of
place. Ridiculed by all, she lives her life in terror from perpetual bullies
until she runs into a stranger in town. Ben is everything she always wanted,
but never expected. Better yet, he sees past her differences. Could Ben be her
dream come true?

Her Frozen Heart by Tara Fox Hall
Alaric has always loved the winter season, second only to his love of spells
and sorcery. When his beautiful neighbor Cassandra reveals she’s a natural
witch, he’s instantly smitten, even as he despairs of attracting her interest.
Is there hope for a magical couple who thrive in different seasons?

The Thawing of Holly’s Heart by Marilyn Gardiner
What happens when a single mother meets an old friend and, despite the
conviction that she will never again open her heart to another man, finds
herself falling in love?

Falling On Ice by Bess Kingsley
After the horrible year ice sculptor Sam McLeod has had, falling off a ladder
at Nationals into the arms of her nemesis is the absolute last thing she needs.
Or is it?

Nicole Angeleenis a
writer from Shawnee, Kansas.When she is not writing, she spends her time
reading on the beach, traveling, and being a rabid and obsessive sports fan.

Rhoda Brutt - Rhonda lives in the Minneapolis metropolitan area and enjoys
swimming, concerts, and making up excuses to get out of cooking!

Valerie Clarizio - I
grew up in the north woods in a house full of brothers. I can hunt, fish, and
survive in the great outdoors with the best of them.

Marilyn
Gardiner - Marilyn has published in many newspapers and magazines, taught a
creative writing class, tutored adults learning to read, and volunteered in the
public school system. Her book shelf holds eleven published novels, and two
more not yet published.

Elena
Kane - A country girl living each day to the fullest;
creating characters that touch the heart and stick with you.

Bess Kingsley - Bess Kingsley is a contemporary romance writer
living in North Carolina

Christina
Kirby - A stay at home mom who loves
books and traveling, though with two small kids the love of books is more
convenient.

April Marcom - April
Marcom is a teacher, author, and mother of three who enjoys the slow, peaceful
life of the countryside.

Charmaine Pauls - South African born Charmaine Pauls is a gypsy at heart
who loves to look at the world through the lens of her camera. Before taking up
writing full time, the novelist worked in public relations, advertising,
journalism and marketing. She resides in Chile with her husband and children.

Nancy
Pennick - After a great career in teaching, Nancy found a second calling as a
writer. She loves to travel, garden and have a good cup of tea nearby.

Yep, you heard me right, but that's not all. All authors participating in this month's event have also generously donated a Kindle copy of one of their books so you'll already have some great stories to read when you curl up with your new Kindle!! To enter, just complete all the easy entries on the Rafflecopter on the bottom of this page. A winner will be drawn randomly tonight at 11:59 PM EST. Today let's hear from author Charmaine Pauls and what she's thankful for :

Living in a Foreign Country

I am
thankful for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my cats, my
health, and my job, but seeing that we’re facing another international move, I’d
like to single out my home. I am thankful for my adoptive country, Chile, that gave
me a warm welcome, a beautiful home, and precious memories.

Atacama Desert

It has
been six years since the day we first set foot in Santiago. We moved here for my
husband’s job. Besides for South Africa, where I’ve been born, I’ve also lived
in France with my husband and children before moving to Chile. The logistics
and physical effort involved in moving house and pets across oceans are hard
enough as it is. On top of that there are the daunting tasks (all done in a new
language you don’t yet speak or understand) of finding a new house, school, doctors,
dentists, hairdresser, internet, cable and cell phone service providers, opening
new bank accounts, changing addresses, applying for residency, getting to know
new products (and figuring out the labels!), find out where to do grocery shopping,
making new friends, and most of all, taking action so you don’t become isolated.

Hardships
aside, pulling up your roots and settling on a different part of the globe, far
removed from everything that’s known and familiar, far away from family, brings
with it invaluable gifts, for which I am thankful.

vIt
brought our family really close, since we only have each other to rely upon in
the beginning, each time we make a new start.

vIt
taught us to be adaptable.

vIt
exposed us to different mindsets, cultures and religions, broadening our life perspectives.

vThe
experience brought plenty of new adventures.

vWe
got to explore a new continent, traveling across this amazingly beautiful
country of over 3000 km long, and to all its bordering countries.

vWe
learned to dance the salsa, and to drink Pisco Sour.

vWe
adapted to the Latin American concept of time and do like the Chilenos do – eating long, jovial
dinners that start late.

vWe
fell in love with the local cuisine and enjoyed Chile’s affordable, world-class
wine.

vWe
made new friends who became our family abroad.

vWe
mastered a new language.

Patagonia

The
biggest gifts Chile gave me, are the nature, new friends, and Spanish. My
family and I will take a piece of this Latin American country with us to our
new home, wherever that may be. I give thanks to Chile and its people, and to the
unknown. May we never stop expanding our boundaries.

Bailo el Cueca para
siempre.

The Cueca
is the national Chilean dance. It depicts the beauty of courtship. The man will
take his time to lead the lady onto the dance floor, during which he compliments
her and convinces her that he is worthy of winning a dance with her. In the
dance they circle each other, much like the rooster and the hen. After a
boastful display by the rooster, the hen always ends up as the conqueror, with
the rooster on his knees (or in the Cueca dance, on one knee).

****

Charmaine
Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in
Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career
path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography,
graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral
part of her professions.

After
relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to
write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published 5 novels since 2011, as
well as several short stories and articles.

When she
is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and work with animal rescue organizations.
Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their
household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

The Astronomer

Loving someone madly, obsessively,
to the point of addiction can be heaven … or hell.

The year
is 2165. A new blood group has evolved, and biological pairing, called mating,
has replaced the old-world marriage ritual. When a stranger saves astronomer
Dr. Fraya Riber from drowning, her body goes into a strange state of arousal.
Bound to be paired with another, Fraya frantically searches for the answers to
the phenomenon that soon becomes an unwelcome addiction. Nothing has prepared
her for this painful dependence, and nothing will prepare her for the cure, or
the identity of her enigmatic savior.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Welcome to November and Unwritten's next BIG event, 30 Days of Thankfulness, featuring a tremendous giveaway that will be PERFECT for a reader on your Christmas list...or a gift for yourself!!! We are giving away a...

Yep, you heard me right, but that's not all. All authors participating in this month's event have also generously donated a Kindle copy of one of their books so you'll already have some great stories to read when you curl up with your new Kindle!! To enter, just complete all the easy entries on the Rafflecopter on the bottom of this page. Today let's hear from author SC Dane and what she's thankful for :

FOUR
RUBBER TIRES AND A GARMIN

Why am I grateful to Michelin and a black box linked
to the stars? Road trekking, my friend. I’m a nomad, voyaging from one job to
the next to pay my way across the U.S. Three years ago I bought a camper-van
and a GPS, loaded my dog on board, and started traveling. How can a forty-five
year old woman be grateful for financial insecurity, potential danger, and missed
exits?

Freedom.
The exhilaration which comes from devouring ribbons upon ribbons of open road.
Where the road less traveled isn’t a metaphor, but a bumpy rock-strewn mountain
pass. Trekking has had its challenges. But that was the point. I’ve uncovered
truths about myself, tapped into strengths I thought I lacked.

But most important, I’ve discovered a common thread
woven from one coast to the next: Goodness still reigns supreme in the hearts
of the people. If I’d stayed in my safe corner of Maine, I would have never
learned (in spite of the evening news’ messages to the contrary) that no matter
where or how people live, they are still kind, generous, and nobly heroic in
their struggles to eke out an existence.

So, during this holiday season of reflection, I’m
grateful for my four rubbers tires and my Garmin GPS. Without them, I wouldn’t
have seen this great country. Or the greatness within those who populate it.

~S.C. Dane

****

S.C.
Dane, born of this earth, has survived upon it fully aware she'll leave it. She
delights in her life, knowing the seasons provide, and time is elastic.
Currently, she’s on an American version of a walkabout, traveling where her
heart and the odd job takes her.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Welcome to November and Unwritten's next BIG event, 30 Days of Thankfulness, featuring a tremendous giveaway that will be PERFECT for a reader on your Christmas list...or a gift for yourself!!! We are giving away a...

Yep, you heard me right, but that's not all. All authors participating in this month's event have also generously donated a Kindle copy of one of their books so you'll already have some great stories to read when you curl up with your new Kindle!! To enter, just complete all the easy entries on the Rafflecopter on the bottom of this page. Today let's hear from author Tony Acree and what he's thankful for :

Mom

The thing I
am most thankful for is my mother. On May 23rd of this year, my mother passed
away from acute leukemia. The disease hit her quickly and from diagnosis to her
death was four days.

My mother
raised her children to be independent, strong willed and loving. She taught us
there are two ways you can face adversity: throw in the towel and ask, “why
me?” or push forward and say, “I can”.

The last day
of her life, she continued to show all of us how to live our lives better.
Knowing she was going to die, she made several phone calls, checking on friends
and family, sharing a laugh and letting each of us know, we were going to be
alright.

My mother’s
faith in an afterlife was unquestioned, her love of family, unequaled, and the
joy she shared unsurpassed. I owe all that I am to my mother. This will be the
first Thanksgiving without her. But when we all gather for dinner at my aunt’s,
we will be giving thanks for having my mom in our lives.

I love my
mother. I give thanks for all the memories which keep her with me, every day.

****

Amazon best selling author, Tony Acree,likes putting characters in situations they think they will never survive, and find out if they're right. He lives near Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, twin daughters, two female dogs, a female cat, and says the way the goldfish looks at him, he's sure she's female, too.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Welcome to November and Unwritten's next BIG event, 30 Days of Thankfulness, featuring a tremendous giveaway that will be PERFECT for a reader on your Christmas list...or a gift for yourself!!! We are giving away a...

Yep, you heard me right, but that's not all. All authors participating in this month's event have also generously donated a Kindle copy of one of their books so you'll already have some great stories to read when you curl up with your new Kindle!! To enter, just complete all the easy entries on the Rafflecopter on the bottom of this page. Today let's hear from author Amber Skye Forbes to tell you about some things she's thankful for :

Strength

This
year has been difficult for me. I have gone through several mental health
crises that have made it difficult for me to be thankful about anything. I was
hospitalized in October after a traumatic event and being in a mixed episode
for bipolar disorder. It was a 24-hour suicide watch. Yet, these things have
strengthened me, and that is what I am grateful for. I am grateful for the
strength I have gained this year through everything that has happened to me.

Many
of us do not think we are strong. Many of us do not think we are strong enough.
As someone with PTSD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, I fall prey to thinking
this copious amounts of time. I am a survivor of these things that have
happened to me this year. I am a survivor because of my strength, my
willingness to fight through the pain and still go after what I want. I have
become more compassionate and understanding. I was already these things, but
continuously building strength without letting the world harden you magnifies these
qualities of mine each time I have nothing left but strength I have to grasp on
to. After all, when there is nothing left, strength is all you can grab to
survive. It may be merely surviving, but strength will soon help you live.

As
a marketer for Southern Siding, this job constantly reminds me that I am strong
because it is a goal-oriented job. My job seems so simple on the surface, but
it is unlike retail or working in food service. It’s a job that requires fight
and determination. It’s a job that requires you to read Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends & Influence People. It’s
a job that empowers me, it’s a job that reminds me what I have in life, and
it’s a job that pushes me toward the future.

You
would think writing would do this for me—and to a certain extent it does. However,
my passion for ballet, another love of my life, does instill confidence in me,
because, for me, ballet is MUCH harder than writing. I know I am a good writer.
I don’t need to be told that. Of course I can always improve. That’s what I
strive to do with each story I write. I want each book I write to be better
than the last. Yet, with ballet, you continually learn new things, you continually
learn new exercises. When you grasp these things, when you can get an exercise
that was so difficult at first, you are filled with a sense of pride,
confidence, and strength. My job as a marketer does the same for me. Writing is
so subjective. Some will hate your work. Others won’t. But ballet and my job
are objective.

Thus,
I am grateful for my strength pushing me through life.

****

Amber Skye Forbes is a dancing writer who goes through life
creating words with the tips of her toes. She dances ballet and writes for
teens. As both a dancer and writer, she has gained enough confidence to go out
into the world and instill this confidence in others. She loves her job as a
marketer for Southern Siding and has high expectations for her future in this
company. She lives in Augusta, GA, where she attends an online college to make
her life more flexible. Besides writing, dancing, reading, and working, she
loves her fiance, fashion, make-up, video games, her family, cat, and
compassion.